19 December in history.

1843

A Christmas Carol is published. Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, the story of the miser Ebenezer Scrooge and how he changes after three ghosts visit him.

Wikipedia: A Christmas Carol

Photo: Charles Dickens, Photographer: Heritage Auctions, Inc. Dallas, Texas / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 19 December

1. 

   1776

   "These are the times that try men's souls"

   Thomas Paine published the first of his American Crisis pamphlets, opening with the line: "These are the times that try men's souls."

   Wikipedia: The American CrisisWikipedia: Thomas Paine

   Photo: Laurent Dabos / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

2. 

   1972

   Apollo 17 comes home

   Apollo 17, the last crewed flight to the Moon, returned to Earth with Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt.

   Wikipedia: Apollo 17

   Photo: Harrison Schmitt / Apollo 17 / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1999

   Another mission to service Hubble

   Space Shuttle Discovery launched on STS-103, the third servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

   Wikipedia: STS-103Wikipedia: Hubble Space Telescope

   Photo: Askeuhd / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

4. 

   2013

   Gaia launches to map the stars

   The European Space Agency launched Gaia, a spacecraft built to make the largest and most precise catalogue of stars ever.

   Wikipedia: Gaia (spacecraft)

   Photo: European Space Agency / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 igo)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.